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Congressional Seats, Judges and a Constitutional Amendment. . . Here Is What's On the Ballot for Next Week

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by Paul Boger on

Tuesday, November 4th, is Election Day. The nearly 75 percent of Mississippians who are eligible to vote will have the opportunity to cast their ballot. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says there are a number of things voters can expect to see.

"Of course the Senate race is on this year, and all our House of Representatives are up for election," says Hosemann. "All of those will be up for election, but your local races will also be on there. This year we have a constitutional amendment. So you'll not only be voting on Senatorial and House of Representative and your judges, but you'll also be voting on the Mississippi Constitution."

Hosemann went on to say that he expects lower than average voter turn-out next week. Kenneth Townsend, a Professor of Political Science at Millsaps College, says after the contentious Republican Senatorial Primary, voters may not be that interested in this election.

"There aren't very many high profile, highly competitive elections taking place," Townsend says. "The primary took all of the air out of the room in a way. I don't think turn-out is going to be great, and I think that will probably even hurt some of the Democrats chances even more."

Also on the ballot, a proposed amendment that would make hunting and fishing in Mississippi a constitutional right, could bring more conservative voters to the polls. State Senator Giles Ward of Louisville is the Chair of the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee.

"It would provide an additional means of protection for those who seem to continue to be determined to try and chip away at those rights," says Ward. "Admittedly, this is happening probably more frequently in other parts of the country, but certainly we seen some evidence even here."

Ward believes Mississippians will pass the amendment by an 80 percent margin. Polls will open next Tuesday, at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.